Our area was once the home of an important Civil War general, James Adam
Ekin. His exemplary service in the military, however, was forever overshadowed by his connection to
President Abraham Lincoln after his death.
Ekin was born in 1819, to a mother whose father, Colonel Stephen Bayard, had a prestigious military background. It might seem that his grandfather’ s involvement with the Army would have carved a natural career path for Ekin, but his first career was actually as a steamboat builder. Bayard had also founded Elizabeth-Town( as it was called then) in 1787 and was partially responsible for bringing steamboat and flatboat builders from Philadelphia to the newly formed town, which likely influenced the young man.
But when the Civil War began, Ekin felt called by another purpose. He enlisted just 12 days after the war began in 1861. Ekin quickly rose through the ranks from lieutenant to colonel, a major and eventually a brigadier general in 1865. He would go on to serve in the U. S. Army until 1883, but an event following the cessation of the Civil War in 1865 would link him to our 16th U. S. president forever.
President Abraham Lincoln was shot at Ford’ s Theatre in Washington, D. C., by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, and died the next morning.
A military commission was formed to try the conspirators of Lincoln’ s assassination and Ekin was a prominent member of this tribunal. Though Booth was the undisputed leader of the group of conspirators aiming to assassinate Lincoln and other government officials, eight others participated in the dark plot and were convicted.
When Booth jumped from the president’ s box to the stage after shooting Lincoln, he broke his leg. Fleeing to Maryland, his leg was set by Dr. Samuel Mudd. Mudd was also convicted but later pardoned after it was realized that no one could have known Booth was going to break his leg and Mudd had no prior knowledge of Booth.
A 2010 film was made about the trial and the mysteries surrounding it by The American Film Company, called“ The Conspirator” and directed by Robert Redford. In the film, Ekin is portrayed by actor John Deifer, but does not figure largely in the story. It’ s worth watching, however.
One important role in history that cannot be discounted by any film is that Ekin served as part of Lincoln’ s Honor Guard at his burial. In fact, the photo of Ekin shown here with his sword at his side was taken the day of Lincoln’ s funeral.
To learn more about General James Ekin, you can contact the Elizabeth Township Historical Society through Facebook. n
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